The Front Page

A US report into China's influence in New Zealand has highlighted concerns, including the possibility political sensitivities are stopping our intelligence agencies from investigating. The Hoover Institution, a US think-tank, released its "Chinese Influence & American Interest" report today with New Zealand presented as a case study. New Zealand is said to be particularly vulnerable because of our smaller size and China being a dominant market for dairy and tourism exports. The report says China's influence operations in New Zealand have ramped up since Xi Jinping became general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2013.And wild weather hits much of the North Island, including a lightning strike which injured four at a Hamilton school.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man who pushed a High Court judge over in a fit of road rage incident, has been sentenced to community work. James Lawrence Beaumont Gilliland was charged with injuring Justice Mary Peters "with reckless disregard for the safety of others" following an altercation in Auckland's Ponsonby in May.It resulted in Justice Peters breaking her wrist in four places. She sits in the High Court at Auckland.Gilliland, a 29-year-old computer programmer, initially pleaded not guilty to the charge.He then admitted the crime and sought a discharge without conviction.That application was rejected and he appeared in the Auckland District Court for sentencing this morning. Also today, a guilty plea by the man who broke Wellington's $300,000 Water Whirler sculpture, another mass pilot whale stranding on NZ shores, and the medicinal cannabis company calling for pot growers to bring in their unique strains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No criminal charges will be laid in relation to a Mt Ruapehu bus crash that killed a West Auckland schoolgirl. Police have completed their investigation into the crash near the Turoa Skifield in July that killed 11-year-old Hannah Francis. Eighteen others were injured, including the driver. Police say, as a result of their investigation, no criminal charges will be laid - and they're preparing for a coroner's hearing. Detective Inspector Ross McKay, crime manager for the central district CIB, says Police will continue to provide support for other agencies in their ongoing investigations.Also today: MP travel expenses revealed, reaction to Huawei decision, and the new Mary Poppins Santa statue challenging gender stereotypes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Czech drug dealer Karel Sroubek is liable to be deported after a firestorm of criticism that embarrassed the Government. Immigration Minister Ian Lees-Galloway has said today he had apologised to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over his handling of the matter.The new information included that Sroubek was convicted in the Czech Republic, but Immigration NZ did not know this because Sroubek came to New Zealand under a different name.Sroubek, now liable for deportation, will have to be deported after finishing his NZ sentence for drug dealing and will not be allowed to return to this country.Also today, the Crown is considering an appeal against the sentence of home detention handed down to an Auckland youth worker who sexually groomed and abused a 12-year-old girl in his care.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An independent review has been launched to into bullying and harassment in Parliament. The review had been talked about for a while, but has become more urgent after recent events, including the sexual assault scandal at Russel McVeigh, allegations of bullying behaviour by Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross, allegations of bullying by Meka Whaitiri, and Dame Laura Cox's report into bullying and harassment of the UK's House of Commons staff. Jami-Lee Ross and Meka Whaitiri both deny the claims. Speaker Trevor Mallard announced the review, and says bullying and harassment must be unacceptable in any workplace. The review comes as allegations bubble up of an 'inappropriate touching incident' at a Young National event.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is launching an urgent immunisation programme to fight meningococcal disease in Northland, after increasing problems with a new deadly strain, MenW. There's been seven nationwide MenW-related deaths this year, with three in Northland. The number of MenW cases jumped from five in 2016 to 29 this year. Health Minister David Clark says clinical experts have declared MenW has reached outbreak levels in Northland, and an immunisation programme is urgently needed to prevent further spread of the disease.And, the tough lending rules that set deposit levels for home buyers could be relaxed this week in response to a flattening property market, although economists warn the Reserve Bank will move cautiously and keep a close eye on debt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A High Court jury has found a 14-year-old boy guilty of the murder of a 40-year-old Flaxmere man. Haami Hanara has been on trial since Monday in the High Court at Napier. Hanara is one of the youngest defendants ever to be charged with murder in New Zealand.And a ban on vaping in bars, restaurants, and workplaces is being proposed as part of the Government's plans to regulate the product.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The devastated family of Wellington woman Sonam Shelar believe she may have been murdered. Wellington police searching for the 26-year-old, who was five months pregnant and went missing on Saturday, recovered her body from the Wairarapa's White Rock Beach late yesterday. Family spokesperson Harshal Patkar told the Herald Sonam's mother collapsed when news of her death reached home in India.A woman has been stabbed in central Auckland this afternoon. Witnesses saw a tall man holding a kitchen knife.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An inquiry is underway into the controversial SAS raid on an Afghan village, which is said to be one of the most complex inquiries in New Zealand history. The main topic today has been deciding what information is to be made public. Dozens of claims have been made in the controversial book Hit and Run, which brought the most serious allegations ever to be aimed at the elite NZSAS. The book, by authors Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, was published 18 months ago. It alleges war crimes, the death of six civilians and wounding of 15 others during a "revenge" raid in Afghanistan on August 22 in 2010.But the Defence Force is disputing those claims, saying Hager and Stephenson made 105 errors.Also today, a Northland garage has had its licence for issuing warrants of fitness suspended indefinitely, after it passed a vehicle which was later involved in a fatal crash. The NZTA has written to all vehicle owners receiving WoFs from Dargaville Diesel Specialists, recommending they get their vehicles re-checked.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand woman has been jailed in the UK after she was found to have provided fake qualifications from the University of Auckland to work as a doctor for more than two decades. Zholia Alemi has been jailed for five years after eventually being found out when she was convicted of trying to fake the will of an elderly female patient. A judge described her as "despicable" when ordering her jail sentence. And sandbags are being offered to residents in Mosgiel and South Dunedin as torrential rain hits the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.